The History of Medieval Music
From the instruments to the composers, here are some fun facts about the Medieval music era.
Messe de Nostre Dame de Guillaume Machaut
Early, High, and Late Medieval Era Music
The History of the Medieval Music Era
The Medieval Music Era
Medieval music is divided into three periods: early medieval music, high medieval music, and late medieval music.
EARLY MEDIEVAL MUSIC
Early Medieval music was mostly composed of chants or what is called ‘plainsong.’ This song was a single melody without an accompanied harmony. Eventually, chants would include another voice in parallel above the first voice. This was called “organum” and is the beginning of modern counterpoint and harmony.
HIGH MEDIEVAL MUSIC
High Medieval music was more advanced than the previous plainsong of the early period. Poet-musicians called goliards wrote and sang songs in Latin. Many of the songs during this time were religious, but the goliards sang songs about everyday life. We call this non-religious music secular music. Many of the lyrics have survived in the medieval text The Carmina Burana.
Professional musicians called troubadours (troo-buh-doors) and trouvères (troo-ver-ays) wrote secular poems, songs, and dances. Many traveled from place to place, as they were hired by wealthy noblemen or women.
LATE MEDIEVAL MUSIC
Late Medieval music was very diverse. Music began to get so specific in different parts of the world that different countries began making their own kinds of music. In France, they began working with a practice called ‘Ars nova’ which means “new art”. In this new art, secular music gained a more advanced type of melody. Even though this term mostly applies to French music, it is often used to describe all music from this part of history. In Italy, their musical movement was called ‘Trecento’. Much of the musical traditions of this time would continue into the next major period, the Renaissance.
Medieval Music Era Vocabulary Terms
flute – A wind instrument made from carved wood with simple holes which when pressed, change the pitch of the instrument played horizontally.
dulcimer – A large, board-like instrument covered in strings of different lengths to produce different tones.
recorder– A wind instrument with holes that when covered, make different pitches played vertically.
vielle – A large, handheld instrument that was played much like a violin, with a bow.
plainsong – A single melody without an accompanied harmony.
organum – A form of early polyphony based on plainsong from the Medieval Era.
goliards – Poet-musicians who wrote songs in Latin that had every day themes.
troubadours and trouvères – Professional musicians who wrote songs with every day themes.
Ars Nova- “New Art” French secular music from the Medieval Era.
Hildegard Von Bingen – A German author, composer, philosopher, mystic, visionary, and medical writer and nurse.
Critical Thinking Questions
- Who were musicians that traveled and played music during the Medieval era?
- What did the call the “New Art” movement in France.